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 CANYON SALVAGE SALE 



DARRINGTON RANGER DISTRICT - MT BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST 



Clinton Forest Plan Designation: Independence Late Successional Reserve 



Key Watershed: South Fork Stillaguamish River 



1300 Acres Planning Area - Insect: Hemlock Looper 



In 1991 a hemlock looper infestation defoliated parts of a 1300 acre area within the Canyon 

 Creek watershed, off Mountain Loop Highway, near Olo Mountain. Although a 1300 acre 

 area was affected, only 400 acres have more than 50% defoliation. The sale includes some 

 of the last old-growth in the Independence Late Successional Reserve. Under the Clearcut 

 Rider, this sale is allowed to proceed without citizen challenge. 



Environmental Impacts of the Sale 



Unstable soils: The Canyon Creek watershed includes steep slopes and unstable 

 soils, leading to a high probability for more slope failures. Past logging activities have 

 instigated several slides in the Canyon Creek watershed. The highest defoliation areas are 

 located right along the creek. Logging these areas will likely cause sedimentation of 

 Canyon Creek and destruction of salmon habitat. Although no new roads are allowed, 

 reconstruction of old roads can still have a devastating effect on the watershed. The 

 Independence LSR already has 1.5 miles of road per square mile, 50% more than is 

 considered marginally acceptable for watershed, fish and wildlife health. 



Wildlife: Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, Bald Eagle, Mountain Goat, Marbled Murrelet, 

 and Gray Wolf have all been observed within the area. Noise from logging operations will 

 disturb murrelet nesting activities. Snags and coarse woody debris created by the looper 

 has created habitat for many species of birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Because the 

 surrounding areas have a deficiency of these structures, it is important to retain these 

 habitats. 



Salmon: Coho salmon, a species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species 

 Act, is present in the South Fork Stillaguamish, and will likely be negatively impacted by this 

 sale. 



Low Elevation and Fragmentation: Much of the sale area is located below 2000 

 feet elevation. Low elevation old-growth forests are extremely rare, and should be protected. 

 The Canyon Creek watershed is highly fragmented and cut over. The old-growth in the 

 Independence LSR is surrounded by private and federal lands that have been heavily 

 logged. As some of the last remaining old-growth in the watershed, it is critical to preserve 

 the area. Additionally, only 43% of the Independence LSR is old-growth. 



